Antarctica

Antarctica Cruises & Holidays

Antarctica; the white desert, the white continent, the South
Pole - whatever you call it, there's nowhere better for a
once-in-a-lifetime luxury holiday. Appropriately enough, the idea
of a travelling to the southernmost reaches of the earth rather
polarises opinion; it is, undeniably, expensive and involves a
significant amount of travel, yet for those keen to go - and it's
worth noting that their numbers are swelling - this is simply one
of those 'must do' experiences.

Antarctica is one of the world's most iconic destinations, and
an increasingly popular one, too. It seems that barely a year goes
by without Sir David Attenborough toying with our emotions as he
narrates a documentary featuring Antarctician residents from
penguins to seals or colossal squid (delete as appropriate), and
with more and more ways to see the so-called white continent you
can now see for yourself how these hardiest of species survive in
their starkly beautiful habitat. If you want to extend your time in
this fascinating part of the world, then we can also weave in
tailor-made visits to the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia or
the Falkland Islands, which are often just as rewarding.

Speaking of visiting, almost everyone who steps foot on
Antarctica does so as part of a cruise. We have the inside track on
the most luxurious small-ship trips around, as well as souped-up
research vessels, strengthened and with added stabilisation for
extra comfort during the occasionally choppy crossing of the Drake
Passage. For obvious reasons, cruises take place under the midnight
sun skies of November to March, when the icecaps start to melt and
the Antarctic wildlife comes out to play. For those who don't fancy
the idea of crossing the Drake Passage (understandable), or who
really want to blow the budget out of the water, we can arrange
fly-in and fly-out trips, including a sojourn to the only permanent
luxury lodge on the white continent. It is also possible to fly
from Argentina to Antarctica and join a cruise from there. The
truly hardcore can even ski the last (nautical) degree to the South
Pole, putting them in a very exclusive club of people who have
reached the southernmost point on the planet under their own
steam.

Whether onboard a ship navigating between fjords and passing
icebergs, or on land travelling across the continent by ice plane
and helicopter, visitors can expect to encounter wildlife including
elephant seals; sea lions; Weddell, crab-eater and leopard seals;
gentoo, chinstrap and Adelie penguins; and a variety of seabirds
including the ocean-going albatrosses, storm petrels, skuas and
Antarctic terns. Orcas, humpback and minke whales are also
occasionally spotted at close range. The teams on board ship or on
the ground (so to speak) include guides and lecturers who are
specialists in the fields of wildlife, geology and the epic history
of Antarctica's exploration by the likes of Amundsen, Shackleton
and Scott.

A Note on Price

All of our holidays are completely tailor-made and prices will vary based on things like when in the year you will be travelling, how far in advance you book and the level of accommodation you choose. The guide prices shown across this website are designed to provide you with a broad indication of how much to budget for your trip.